Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Fluorescent lamp sunbeds emitting 100 and 160 watts safely and significantly increased serum vitamin D levels by 70 – 100% in study participants.
A recent Canadian study found that increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] blood levels to an optimal 100 nmol/L might prevent 23,000 premature deaths and save $12.5B annually in direct health care costs 1. Vitamin D synthesis in the body is predicated on the availability of ultraviolet-B (UVB) and for Canadians living at northern latitudes above 44°N, sun exposure does not provide sufficient UVB radiation to stimulate vitamin D synthesis, thus increasing susceptibility to colds and flu, osteoporosis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and many forms of cancer, and heart disease 2. People with malabsorption issues such as Crohn’s disease 3 often cannot absorb vitamin D through the gut with diet or supplements and must rely entirely on UV exposure.
Previous studies have shown that people using tanning salon sunbeds with UVB during winter, can reach physiological blood levels of vitamin D greater than 100 nmol/L. Kimball et al 4 in the following study found that participants who used typical sunbeds emitting UVB rays in the range equivalent to outdoor summer sunshine were able to increase their vitamin D blood levels an average of 42 nmol/L. There are risks to any type of UV exposure, whether from the sun or sunbed; however, by following Health Canada’s recommended guidelines, study participants effectively raised their vitamin D levels into the desired range without burning. The recommended 25(OH)D levels during winter months are: Health Canada (>50 nmol/L)5, European Endocrine Society (>75 nmol/L ) 6and European Vitamin D Association (75-125 nmol/L)7.
The primary study objective was to compare the effects of sunbooth tanning on 25(OH)D levels for 3 types of sunbeds: Group 1 (n=20; 100 watt fluorescent lamp), Group 2 (n=20; 160 watt fluorescent lamp) and Group 3 (n=19; 700 watt metal halide lamp), compared to control (n=26, no tanning]). Serum 25(OD)D samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of tanning sessions. Tanning lengths and frequency were calculated based on Health Canada guidelines to stay below the erythema levels (Health Canada RED Act). A secondary goal was to quantify skin color changes throughout the tanning period and their effect on vitamin D levels.
In comparison with baseline, serum 25(OH)D were significantly increased in group 1 (100 watts) at week 9 (p<0.001) and week 12 (p<0.001) and in group 2 (160 watts) at week 12 only (p = 0.05); however, there was no change over time in group 3 (metal halide lamp) or control group. Mean 25(OH)D increased by an average of 42 nmol/L in both group 1 (100 watts) and Group 2 (160 watts. The changes in 25(OH)D levels were dependent on baseline 25(OH)D levels, age, and type of sunbed (p=0.003) but were not affected by gender, BMI, or total length of tanning sessions. Skin pigmentation and lightness were also significantly correlated with 25(OH)D levels for the sunbeds with fluorescent lamps emitting UVB (100 and 160 watts).Based on RM ANOVA, skin pigmentation increased and skin lightness significantly decreased in all tanning groups at all measured sites (inner and outer upper arm, cheek, forehead and lower back at 12 weeks, (p<0.001)
This study demonstrated that fluorescent lamp sunbeds produced a 75–100% increase in 25(OH)D concentrations in 12 weeks and 28 tanning sessions and supports the hypothesis that tanning booths providing artificially produced UVB to mimic sunlight could be a surrogate for sunlight’s production of vitamin D when sunlight (UVB) is low in northern countries during winter months.
Source: Kimball, Samantha M., Jasmine Lee, and Reinhold Vieth. “Sunbeds with UVB radiation can produce physiological levels of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers.” Dermato-Endocrinology (2017): e1375635.
© 2018 Samantha M Kimball, Jasmine Lee, and Reinhold Vieth. Open Access under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
Click here to read the full text study.
Posted July 23, 2018.
Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.
References:
- Grant WB, Whiting SJ, Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ, Kimball SM. Estimated economic benefit of increasing 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of Canadians to or above 100 nmol/L. Dermato-endocrinology. 2016;8(1):e1248324.
- Holick MF. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2004;79(3):362-371.
- Nic Suibhne T, Cox G, Healy M, O’morain C, O’sullivan M. Vitamin D deficiency in Crohn’s disease: prevalence, risk factors and supplement use in an outpatient setting. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2012;6(2):182-188.
- Kimball SM, Lee J, Vieth R. Sunbeds with UVB radiation can produce physiological levels of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers. Dermato-endocrinology. 2017;9(1):e1375635.
- Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(1):53-58.
- Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(7):1911-1930.
- Płudowski P, Karczmarewicz E, Bayer M, et al. Practical guidelines for the supplementation of vitamin D and the treatment of deficits in Central Europe—recommended vitamin D intakes in the general population and groups at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Endokrynologia Polska. 2013;64(4):319-327.
